Nixon sending National Guard to North Dakota

JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon is sending Missouri National Guard members to North Dakota to help residents there deal with historic flooding.

Nixon said Saturday the state is sending two C-130 aircraft with 14 Airmen from St. Joseph and 20 members of a National Guard helicopter maintenance team from Springfield.

The helicopter maintenance group will report to Grand Forks today while the C-130 crews are awaiting mission assignments.

The Red River along the North Dakota-Minnesota line is threatening the city of Fargo as it is more than 22 feet above flood stage. And though the river has crested, it is expected to stay more than 20 feet above flood stage for several days, testing the strength of the dikes. It is expected to crest well above the previous record of 40.1 feet, set in 1897.